Soil II – Importance to Animals Basic 3 Basic Technology Lesson Note

How Soil Helps Animals

Just like plants, animals also need soil to survive. Soil provides many important things for different animals.

Animals That Live in the Soil

Many animals make their homes in soil:

• Earthworms – long, soft worms that eat dead leaves

• Ants – build underground tunnels and rooms

• Termites – create big hills above ground

• Beetles – small insects that dig in soil

• Moles – small mammals that live underground

• Rabbits – dig burrows (holes) to hide and sleep

• Snakes – some types hide in soil holes

• Spiders – make homes in soil cracks

Uses of Soil to Animals

For Shelter:

• Burrows – animals dig holes to live in
• Protection – soil keeps animals safe from enemies
• Cool homes – soil stays cool in hot weather
• Warm homes – soil stays warm in cold weather

For Food:

• Eating plants – animals eat plants that grow in soil
• Eating worms – birds find worms in soil to eat
• Eating insects – many soil insects become food for other animals
• Finding roots – some animals eat plant roots

For Water:

• Drinking – animals find water stored in soil
• Staying wet – some animals need moist soil to live

Exercise 1:

1. Name 3 animals that live in soil: _______, _______, _______
2. How does soil protect animals? _______
3. What do earthworms eat? _______